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The Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has been named as the Cabinet minister who put his hand on the knee of a radio presenter at a dinner 15 years ago.

Sir Michael admitted the incident had taken place and said he had apologised to broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer for his behaviour at the time.

Miss Hartley-Brewer, the talkRADIO presenter, has written in the past about the incident, saying she threatened to punch the MP in the nose if he did it again, and has always refused to name the man in question, saying they remain friends.

She said she did not regard it as "anything other but mildly amusing".

A spokesman for Sir Michael said that he had apologised when the incident happened and that...